{"id":1347884,"date":"2024-04-10T16:52:58","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T15:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1347884"},"modified":"2024-04-10T16:52:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T15:52:58","slug":"chelsea-stats-defence-problems","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/chelsea-stats-defence-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea stats: Are mistakes or misfortune causing poor defensive record?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea<\/a> continue to be dogged by defensive deficiencies.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Blues were looking to build on a morale-boosting 4-3 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, but could only draw 2-2 with strugglers Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.<\/p>\n

Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s side were once again undone by frailties at the back, and their goals against tally now stands at 52 for the campaign – inside the Premier League\u2019s bottom half.<\/p>\n

So, how can the West Londoners improve their defensive resilience?<\/p>\n

Clean sheet conundrum<\/h3>\n

Chelsea secured their fifth top-flight clean sheet of the season against Fulham back in January, but it has been downhill ever since.<\/p>\n

They have now gone nine matches without registering a Premier League shut-out, during which time they have conceded four goals on two occasions – and let in two against relegation-battlers Brentford, Burnley and most recently Sheffield United.<\/p>\n

Breaking that unwanted streak will bring some much-needed confidence to the team\u2019s back line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Underperformance<\/h3>\n

A degree of misfortune is perhaps partially to blame for Chelsea\u2019s defensive record.<\/p>\n

After all, the Blues have conceded 21 goals across the aforementioned nine games, but only have an xGA of 15.22.<\/p>\n

That applies across the season as a whole, too, with their 45.38 expected goals against some way below their actual tally of 52 conceded.<\/p>\n

Pochettino will hope to see some variance between now and the end of the campaign, as Chelsea try to claw themselves into a European qualification spot.<\/p>\n